Winner Of June Primary Will Not Solve Anything

By Betty Jean Grant

Betty Jean Grant

Well, right now, with everybody courting the Eastside for votes, in this mayoral election, it seems that black folks and minorities will have a powerful voice in determining who wins the Democratic Primary. However, with a Republican joining the race in the November General Election, along with both Scanlon and Ryan having alternative lines, and Michael Gainer on the Restore Buffalo line, it seems like the traditional route from winning the Primary to being crowned the General Election, may take a different route this year.

Progressive candidate, India Wal ton, defeated incumbent Mayor, Byron Brown, in a historic Primary victory that stunned almost every one, including the candidates them selves. However, the Walton’s camp primary was brief, because Byron Brown mounted a basically unheard of initiative in the General Election known as a “Stamp In Campaign.” This controversial way of voting, using an inked stamper, which many voters deemed illegal, was successful as Mayor Brown won the general election by a significant margin.

Former Mayor Jimmy Griffin lost the 1977 Democratic Primary race to New York State Assemblyman Arthur O. Eve, but then he went on to win the Mayor’s seat with a lot of Republican voters running to the Conservative line to cast their vote for him. Assemblyman Eve’s primary win of the race scared the Buffalo, Albany, and New York City kingmakers and political gurus so badly, someone created the posi tion of Deputy Speaker of the New York State Assembly and present ed to Mr. Eve. That position was mainly ceremonial, however, it was held in high regards not only by his colleagues, but also by people all across the state.

As I write this, on June 2025 Pri mary Day, I am not sure which can didate will be victorious. What I do know is, whomever it is, they will still have viable and engaged competitors going into the November General Election cycle.

The news of the Primary winner and other mayoral candidates still campaigning after this election will do nothing to allay the community’s fear and concerns that press confer ences, photo ops., rallies, fundrais ers and debates will eat up resourc es that could be used to ‘fill those damn potholes’, pave our streets, address the homelessness issues and cut the overgrown grass in all those 5000 vacant lots.